The Burlington Free Press from Burlington, Vermont • Page 1

pF j7r77ZZ7T Highlights, music scene JrA anc" a 'ook at tlie Oscars I IS -Tf I WEEKEND Bruins, Montreal win in playoffs In SPORTS, Page 1C ov fnintnn 1 ml RSDAY House OKs tax cut for Vermonters April Burlington, Vermont Volume 162, No. 98 35 cents, four news sections By James E. Bressor Free Press Staff Writer MONTPELIER For the first time in more than two decades, Vermonters would pay their state income taxes using a multi-rate tax code under a bill adopted by the Vermont House Wednesday. In the day's crucial vote, House members generally followed party lines and approved, 75-71, reducing the personal income tax rate from a flat 25 percent of an individual's federal tax liability to a lower, two-tiered rate that favors low-and moderate-income Vermonters. Under this plan, which House mem bers must vote on again before sending it to the Senate, Vermonters would have a state tax rate of 22 percent for their first $3,500 of federal liability and 24 percent above that figure.

For a family of four with an income of $40,000, the change would mean a savings of $107. If the 1989 Legislature does not adjust the tax rate, it would automatically climb to a flat 24 percent as of April 1. "Another day for the working man in the Vermont Legislature," Majority Leader Paul Poirier, D-Barre, said after the debate. Tax Commissioner Norris Hoyt said the state had its own progressive tax code until the mid-1960s which was independent of the federal tax code. At that time, the Vermont Legislature decided to "piggyback" the state tax on the federal system, a method many state were then employing, he said.

"This is the first time we've picked up the federal brackets and had our own brackets," Hoyt said. He added that Vermont and Rhode Island are the only states still piggybacked on the federal code. Most Republicans favored a proposal to reduce the rate for all Vermont taxpayers to 23 percent while all but five Top of the news Hope daughter-in-law may replace Bork The Associated Press WASHINGTON President Reagan is expected to name comedian Bob Hope's daughter-in-law to replace defeated Democrats supported the two-tiered approach. Both proposals would cost the state about $15 million, most of it in fiscal 1989. The House Democratic leadership, believing their proposal was in serious trouble in the beginning of the day, lobbied hard for the two-level tax code.

"This was a day for heavy lifting," said House Speaker Ralph Wright, D-Bennington. As they have often before, Republicans accused Wright of strong-arm tactics to win votes, which the speaker denied. Several GOP House members said Turn to HOUSE, back page Vt. water cleanup bill OK'd TT1 Supreme Court nominee Robert H. Willson in Vermont xaMWtrv.

Bork on a federal if appeals court here, a I if I Justice Department I I official said Wednesday. ---s'-. The nomination of Judith Richards Hope as a judge of the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia is "on HOPE I v. i 4' I 'i course," said the official, who asked to remain anonymous.

Bork resigned from the bench in February, four months after his nomination to the Supreme Court was defeated by the Senate in a bitter fight. Hope, 47, is a partner in the Washington office of Paul, Hastings, Janofsky Walker, which has its headquarters in Los Angeles. She is married to Hope's son, Tony Hope, also a lawyer here. Rutland educator a finalist The Associated Press LANSING, Mich. A Rutland, school official, who is among five finalists to run Michigan's public school system, was interviewed Wednesday night.

The winner will oversee Michigan's 525 local school districts and guide a department with jurisdiction over nearly 1.6 million students. Salary for the post is $79,700 a year. Since 1982, William Mathis, 44, has been the superintendent of schools for the Rutland Northeast Supervisory Union, which covers eight towns spread over two counties in Vermont. He also served as deputy assistant commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Education. To our readers: The "Weekend" section in today's Free Press has a brand new look.

This handy tabloid carries a full calendar of events for the week ahead, film reviews, concert information and tips on ways to spend your leisure time. You'll also find such regular features as Ann Landers, the comics and Jumble in the back of the section. "Weekend," northern Vermont's leading entertainment guide, is yours each Thursday in the Free Press. 1 1 By James E. Bressor Free Press Staff Writer MONTPELIER Burlington's sewer woes moved a step closer to resolution as the Vermont House Wednesday approved loaning the city and other Vermont communities $12 million of the anticipated surplus for repairs.

The legislation is intended to be the beginning of a revolving loan program, involving between $106 million and $130 million over the next six years, to assist more than 20 municipalities in upgrading their sewer systems. Burlington would receive the lion's share of the first year's appropriation, with three other cities, Newport, St. Albans and Winooski, getting smaller sums for planning grants. Burlington's sewer system overflowed repeatedly last summer, pouring raw sewage into Lake Champlain and into hundreds of cellars. The full cost of improving the city's sewer system has been estimated at $52 million.

Burlington eventually would receive $13 million in grant money from the state and a 20-year no-interest $26 million loan. Unlike Vermont communities that constructed their sewer treatment plants during the 1960s and '70s with a heavy infusion of federal money, residents of communities receiving money under the new loan program would pay more than half the cost of improving their sewer systems. The program would have the state provide 25 percent of the cost of a project through grants and 50 percent through no-interest loans. Municipalities would cover the remaining 25 percent. "The federal government is getting out of this, as they are many things," said Rep.

Curt McCormack, D-Rutland. Washington would provide $54 million to the state between 1989 and 1994 solely for loan money, he said. The bill will travel to the Senate today after the House gives the legislation its final approval. Burlington Mayor Bernard Sanders praised the members of the House for their support of the bill. "This bill may well be the most important environmen-Turn to WATER, back page JYM WIISON, Free Presi Brian Willson displays the award of the Augusto Cesar Sandino Order that was presented to him by Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega last month, Ortega called Willson the "head of state of the consciousness of North America." Willson still promoting peace Activist who lost legs dislikes being dubbed a hero By Judith Shulevitz Free Press Staff Writer Resolutely modest under his jaunty red St.

Louis Cardinals cap, Brian Willson dislikes the word "hero." "I didn't sit on the tracks to be called a hero," he told a hostile caller on Jack Barry's WKDR radio talk show Wednesday morning. "I was there to try to stop a war against people in Central America by raising the moral issue." But accolades came thick and fast from other Vermont callers for the former Chelsea resident, thrust into the international spotlight last September when a Navy train ran over him and severed his legs during an anti-war protest. And last week Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega awarded him Nicaragua's highest medal the Augusto Cesar Sandino Order for being "a head of state of the consciousness of North America," an honor Willson deemed "a heavy trip." These days Willson walks steadily on fiberglass and steel legs with the aid of two canes. Doctors rebuilt his fractured skull and sewed an ear back on his head; a physical therapist taught him to use his new legs within two months. Nationally known after a 47-day fast for peace on the steps of the nation's capital in 1986, the peace activist, lawyer, farmer and Vietnam veteran's stature has grown since the train incident, he said.

"It's given me an apparent Turn to WILLSON, back page Numbers HOCKEY: Canadiens 4 Bruins 7 Flyers 4 3 Buffalo 3 -Capitals 2 BASEBALL: Yankees 5 Red Sox 6 Expos 5 Israeli girl, two Arabs die in West Bank melee it 1,1 3 Detroit 5 Mets 1 Sports, 1C 7 VERMONT LOTTERY: The numbers 824 and 2166 were drawn Wednesday. DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE: gained 64.16 to 2,061.67. Money, 7B Weather Mostly cloudy skies today, high 55 to 60, winds 10 to 20 mph. Cloudy tonight, rain likely. Regional forecast, 12A Mayor to visit Soviet Union Sister city sought By Enrique Corredera Free Press Staff Writer A Burlington delegation, headed by Mayor Bernard Sanders, will travel to the Soviet Union next month to try to establish a sister-city relationship.

Sanders said the trip is designed to speed the complicated bureacratic process involved in creating sister-city relationships with the Soviet Union. The city that has been targeted for the relationship is Yaroslavl, an ancient community on the Volga River located about 150 miles northeast of Moscow. The city has a population of about 500,000. City officials from various departments and representatives from the business, medical and religious communities are expected to be part of the delegation, Sanders said, but several details must still be worked out. Sanders said he expected about a dozen people to sign up.

The delegation is scheduled to leave New York City May 30 and arrive in Leningrad the following day. The delation will spend three days in Leningrad, three days in Moscow and four days in Yaroslavl. Sanders said he anticipates Soviet officials will pay room and board for Inside By Mary Sedor The Associated Press BEIT Occupied West Bank A holiday hike by Israeli teen-agers ended Wednesday in a melee of shooting and stone-throwing in an Arab town in which a 14-year-old Israeli girl and two Palestinians were killed. Hours after the clash, Jewish settlers raided the nearby Arab village of Haw-wara, smashing car windshields, beating villagers and breaking into homes, said Jihad Howari, the Israeli-appointed head nf tKo villoma prtimHl The girl's death was the first of an Israeli civilian in the violence that has swept the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip since Dec. 8.

At least 140 Arabs have died, according to U.N. figures, and one Israeli soldier has been killed. The youngsters, children of Jewish settlers on the occupied West Bank, were on a Passover outing and had stopped for a picnic lunch when the trouble began with stone-throwing. Members of the group said Arabs offering to help then led them to Beita. Arabs wrestled two automatic rifles from the group's two Israeli guards but did not fire them, the army reported.

Witnesses said the Israelis started the trouble by killing a Palestinian. Army spokesmen originally said the girl, Tirza Porat, and several other teenagers were shot but reported later that she was killed by a rock. Eleven of the 18 hikers, the 60-year-old map acting as guide and one of the two Israeli guards were injured and two Palestinians were wounded by gunfire, the army said. Dozens of settlers waving an Israeli flag later held a nighttime vigil about half a mile from Beita, and said they would build a new settlement in the area. Army officials said the settlers left after several hours at the urging of troops who surrounded the village.

Scores of angry settlers also demonstrated in front of Defense Minister Yitzhak Rabin's home and called on him to resign, Israel radio said. Foreign Minister Shimon Peres said on Israel radio: "Israel will cut off the murderers' hands and will not let the evil terror achieve its aim." Arab witnesses claimed the Israelis provoked the clash. They said the armed guards fired on Arabs who approached the Israelis, killing a 19-year-old Palestinian, and his angry companions then charged the hike. Classified 4C Nation 2A Comics 18D New England5B Crossword 7C Opinion 10A Deaths 2B Sports 1C Living 1 TV listings 1 tu Free Press photo MAYOR BERNARD SANDERS will lead a delegation to the Soviet Union to acquire a sister city. some participants.

Whatever is not paid by the Soviet government will come out of the delegation's pockets, and he emphasized that no city money will be used in the trip. Robert Daniels, a University of Vermont history professor who has specialized in Soviet studies for the past 40 years and suggested Yaroslavl for the relationship, said the city is located in a forest and dairy environment that resembles Burlington's surroundings. Daniels said Yaroslavl has a university that compares to UVM, and the city Turn to SANDERS, back page I IB 8A 7B Vermont. 15D World Coming tomorrow ON HOLD: Democratic presidential candidate Paul Simon of Illinois will hold a Capitol Hill news conference today, at which he is expected to suspend, but not drop, his candidacy..